How to Keep Flying Ants Out of a Swimming Pool

That clear, cool swimming pool in your backyard is an oasis to humans and animals alike. Even small insects, such as flying ants, may take refuge in your pool. These irritating pests are attracted to the reflection of sunlight striking your pool, and will fly straight into the water. Even wet flying ants will bite if provoked, so keeping flying ants out of your pool is necessary for safe swimming.

Tennis balls

Pool skimmer

Empty plastic bottles

Knife

Peppermint oil

5-gallon bucket

Vinegar

Liquid dish soap

Pool cover

Drop a few tennis balls inside your pool. Flying ants are not good swimmers, and will cling to the surface of the tennis ball to avoid drowning. Six tennis balls are enough for most pools; however, larger pools or heavy ant infestation may require a few more.

Scoop the tennis balls out with a pool skimmer. The fine mesh catches any ants that fall off the balls as you lift them out of the water.

Add a quart of vinegar to a 5 gallon bucket, and drizzle in a few drops of liquid dish soap. Fill the bucket 1/3 of the way full with water, and drop the ant-covered balls in the solution. This solution kills the ants without exposing your family or pets to dangerous chemicals.

Poke holes in one long side of an empty plastic bottle, and add a few drops of peppermint oil to the bottle. Screw the lid tightly on the bottle, and float the bottle in the pool with the holes facing up. Flying ants hate the smell of peppermint and will avoid your pool.

Cover your pool with a pool cover when not in use. The sun won't shine on the surface of the water, so ants won't fly into your pool.

Place the tennis balls back in the pool once the ants are dead.